By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
There still is room for another superhero on the big screen. Marvel Enterprises and Paramount Pictures bring ``Iron Man,'' an action-packed movie inspired by the 1963 comic of the same title. Watch out Spider-Man, you've got competition.
Jon Favreau, director and actor of ``Elf,'' teams up with a star-studded cast and crew for this smart, techno-savvy story. Hollywood favorites Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges bring the comic book characters to life, and ILM (Industrial Light & Magic), the special effects team for ``Transformers,'' works its magic.
While cult followers of the original comic can skip the introduction, for those unfamiliar with ``Iron Man,'' it's like superhero meets ``Transformers.'' It's also reminiscent of ``The Tuxedo,'' where a sleek suit enables Jackie Chan to waltz and dodge bullets. This time, a scientist builds himself a shiny, high-tech robot outfit. Bulletproof and airborne, he's ready to save the world.
Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) is the CEO and creative brain of a multibillion-dollar arms industry. Armed with charming looks, he's also a gambling playboy. Following the showcase of his latest invention in Afghanistan, local guerrillas kidnap him and force him to build a missile.
But our sexy, mad scientist devises an escape plan. Thus is born ― from scraps of metal inside a cave ― Mark 1, a suit that makes him invincible like Robocop.
The experience proves to be more enlightening than traumatizing for our protagonist. He learns that his weapons, which he had casually defended to be protectors of peace, can be destructive in the wrong hands.
Stark has ``a change of heart, literally and figuratively,'' as Downey Jr. said in the recent Asia junket in Seoul. He has a heart transplant ― a futuristic substance replaces hid damaged organ ― and discovers a newfound sense of responsibility to rectify matters. There's a dash of ``Wizard of Oz,'' where a modern day Tin Man looks for his missing heart. But his business partner Obadiah Stane (Bridges) isn't too happy when Stark vows to stop making weapons.
But watching his back are his beautiful assistant Pepper (Paltrow) and best friend Jim Rhodes (Howard). Howard gives weight to the story with his strong screen presence. Pepper might have stopped short of being a typical damsel in distress wearing risque high heels, but the movie capitalizes well on Paltrow's beauty-with-brains appeal. The blooming romance between the superhero and heroine spices things up.
You warm up to Stark as he goes through rather comical trials and tribulations to perfect his suit, from Mark 1 and 2 to 3. The film mesmerizes you with one nifty gadget after another (Korean audiences can also notice flashy LG cell phones). A pair of ``Dumb and Dumber'' assistant robots ― creative suggestions by Downey Jr. himself ― throws in lots of good laughs.
What sets ``Iron Man'' apart is that the film's internal logic distances away from the superhuman realms of ``Spider-Man'' and the like. Manmade technologies solve ― and cause ― manmade problems.
We have a hero that made his own choice to become one, and he has the resources to make it happen. Sound a bit like Batman? Far from brooding, Iron Man is thoroughly Tony Stark ― larger than life, smug and a bit greasy. When not in his red and gold armor, Downey Jr. sports tailored pinstripe suits and a sleek hair-do. The charismatic star is made for the part, and you can forget ``Chaplin" for a moment.
Iron Man is the quintessential 21st century superhero.
As for the possibility of a sequel, the director said he is ready to work with Downey Jr. if ``Iron Man'' does well in the box-office.
``Iron Man'' is coming to theaters in Korea April 30 before its theatrical release in other parts of the world. It opens in the United States May 2. 12 and over. 108 minutes.